Winter has started quite nicely. The snow has come and we have moved after the snow. The Alps have been on my mind and I have been there three times already.

Huurre peitti Chamonixin huiput

Frost covered the peaks of Chamonix

Possujuna kulkee ja matka taittuu

The pig train is running and the journey is winding down

Iltapäivä alkaa pikkuhiljaa taipumaan hämärään

The afternoon is slowly turning to dusk

I had a return ticket to Milan from last summer. During the summer trips, the only way to travel was to buy one-way tickets, but the cheapest way to return home was to buy a round-trip ticket. I already rationalized the ticket in the summer so that if the weather was favorable, I could visit the Alps in early December. That's how it happened that it snowed in Alppila and we went on a trip. However, there were last-minute changes in terms of flights and a new destination was found a little closer to Munich. From there, get in the car and off you go. The forecasts promised good rains on the Austrian side, but no matter what. It snowed more in the Western Alps. However, I was left wondering about the snow situation in the direction of Austria and Switzerland.

 

Keli söi lumet ja pellolla laskettiin lehmänpaskassa

The road ate the snow and it was counted in cow shit in the field

Paska lasku kerta kaikkiaan

Totally crap bill

Tämä taas ei ole shaissea, tämä on La Meije

Again, this is not shaisse, this is La Meije

The next trip was planned almost immediately after getting home. Now, however, the flight to Milan and the Fiat Panda. Idea: drive where it snows the most. This wasn't very difficult in terms of the trip, because it has snowed in huge amounts in the Alps. However, the trip was made difficult, if not extremely difficult, by the constant temperature fluctuations and the storm wind that got really furious. Anyone who moves outside can deduce what this means. The trip included good and then very bad days, when in the morning there is a nice 60cm of snow on the roof of the car, but when the temperature rises, it melts in the eyes.

 

Panda imee sisäänsä laskukamat ja kaksi aikuista. Hetkittäin tämä toimi myös hotellina

The panda absorbs the nestlings and two adults. For a while, this also served as a hotel

Ne tietää, jotka tietää. Kuttula.

Those who know who knows. Kuttula.

Melkein koko reissujen ajan on näyttö ollut vähintään nelosella

During almost the entire trip, the screen has been at least on Nelose

Graven ylä-aseman refuge ja ravintola. Herkkuja tarjolla!

Grave upper station Refuge and restaurant. Treats available!

I took the third Alpine trip of the season to Chamonix, where I stayed for a week. While resting on the floor of a friend's family's living room, I could only watch the snow fall on the village again. The elevators were kept open and I was reminded again why Chamonix is such a difficult place for good skiing. Even the stormy winds raged and in the end the avalanche scale sank to red, looking a nice 5/5. At that point it was good to lift the switch and come home.

Klassikko

Classic

Kelpaa ajella pitkin vuoristoa

Good for driving along the mountains

Photo 27.12.2017 11.26.41

Chamonixin väliasema alkoi aamupäivän jälkeen täyttymään suksista ja laudoista

The intermediate station in Chamonix started to fill up with skis and boards after morning

HB, sinne tahtoo humpan tahtiin uudelleen

HB, I want to go there at the same pace again

Ei ollut pyyda-aamuna ruuhkaa

There was no rush hour in the morning

Tartifletteä Annecyssä. Keli päällä ja jotain pitää keksiä.

Tartiflette in Annecy. The road is on and something needs to be figured out.

 

Now to pack things for the next trip. Spain and the Pyrenees are waiting for their takers. Fun hill and winter days to you all.